One glass
December 1, 2013 § 33 Comments
We don’t have a lot of stuff. One friend charitably describes our lifestyle as “minimalist,” but “two steps away from broke” doesn’t miss the mark by much.
The other day a good friend came by to talk about the upcoming event. His car is double my net worth, although that doesn’t really tell you much about his car. When he sat down to the table, I offered him some wine. This is always the awkward part because we only have one wine glass, and it was already in use.
Our other glasses are heavy duty Duralex tumblers, and people always do a brief double-take when I pour their wine into one. They never say anything, but the thought plays quickly across their foreheads: “Why don’t you have any wine glasses?” The answer is complicated, at least once you dispense with the obvious reason that I don’t want to spend the money.
My friend sloshed the wine around, then took a swig. He’s an unusual man. Although he has discriminating taste, and when left to his own devices seldom does anything other than top shelf, he’s equally at home with the bottled equivalent of wine from a cardboard box. He also has the unusual quality of giving thanks for things that other people may not even perceive.
Like so many people who started with nothing and turned it into everything, he’s never lost the ability to appreciate that cheap things don’t always reflect cheapness of sentiment. Sometimes the cheap offering is the only offering there is. “So, here’s the plan,” he said, carefully going through the order of activities for the big event that he’d put together. It was an extraordinary list of things that included fine wine, locally brewed craft beer, exotic catering, and an impressive event followed by a party at a fancy bar.
“Have I left anything out?” he asked.
Stunned at the level of planning, I said “No. Nothing I can think of.”
“Well, what could I add to make it better?”
I shook my head, then scratched it. “Damn, Dave. It sounds like the perfect event. I still can’t believe you’re doing all this. It’s wonderful.”
He grinned. “It’s for our cycling community. I’m pleased to be able to do it.”
Sharing the love
Dave is one of those people who believes that to have much doesn’t mean much unless you share it with many. He’s the one who offers to fly his pals to various fun rides in his private jet. He’s the one who opens his palatial home to his cycling pals who, shall we say, don’t exactly live in the lap of luxury. He’s also the one who gives anonymously to charities and organizations that feed people, that clothe people, that give those being ground under the wheel a second breath.
He’s one of the few who closely holds views about god and religion, and preaches them through deeds rather than words.
But back to the glass …
When we eat dinner, my wife and I share our wine out of that one wine glass. Sometimes we drink what she likes. Sometimes we drink what I like. Sometimes we drink what we both like. With the glass in between us like that, we lean a little more closely together. We agree more. We take turns. We look at each other more, and, maybe, more deeply. Sometimes, when she’s pushing the glass over to me, our fingers touch.
How often do your fingers and the fingers of your loved one touch during dinner? Not often enough, right?
My friend Dave saw all that, and took it in, wordlessly. What some might have seen as absence or want, Dave saw as fulfilled. He drained his tumbler and smiled, as if he always drank cheap wine from a 2-lb. glass.
“Thanks,” he said.
“I’m the one who owes the thanks,” I said. “Can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done.”
He looked at the lone wine glass, then at me. “Thanks for the hospitality, and for sharing.” He meant it.
Cycling in the South Bay 
Very nice. You hit all aspects of life.
Thanks, Peter!
Dave is an impressive guy and a even better human being. We are lucky to have him share a piece of his life with us cyclists.
Yep.
You have surrounded yourself with the right people, but who you are is what keeps them around. I love starting the day with another of your astute observations. Thanks for that.
Thanks, Marv!
Well said!
You can buy a set o 4 wine glasses for 7.99 or or 5 dollars on clearance usally.
Yes, you can. And then you can drink by yourself.
Why don’t they have a ‘like’ button!
That’s what your comment just did!
Somehow we went from in one blog: “As Junkyard later explained in the coffee shop, body dripping with grime and face aglow with the happiness of having gotten his dick stomped and head staved in”
To: “Sometimes, when she’s pushing the glass over to me, our fingers touch”.
What a fascinating and erudite blog I have discovered. When I told Sausage that I had only just discovered this blog he almost crashed into the bushes.
I maybe late to this party but I’m thoroughly enjoying it. Thanks.
Thanks for stopping by! Never quite sure which one of my Sybils will show up when I write.
I’m thinking your friend Dave recognized that you are indeed one of the wealthiest people he knows in the ways that matter. And I thank you for sharing that wealth with the rest of us – we’re all the richer for it, too! (My thanks to Dave for the great evening he set up – it was indeed awesome. And thanks to your peanut gallery for an endless stream of, um, “interesting” comments!)
Thanks to you, too, Deb!
Nice sentiment, nicely written. Thank you.
You’re welcome!
Reblogged this on Lead By Lifestyle and commented:
The upsides to minimalism are often more subtle than those of affluence.
We must have 24 wineglasses here (big ones, small ones, medium ones) … but those are for guests. My wife and I share the same one every time.
Solidarity.
Nice!
Seth, having you spend the time to write this touched me deeply and I have been unable to respond until now. I am blessed to know you and will always drink out of whatever cup you have.
“Rich” only matters if it is about friends and being able to have honorable men respect your character. I have told my kids from day one, that it does not matter what you have, it only matters what you are; that the importance of being honest, honorable and taking care of others is the basis for which all other achievements must be built.
Thank you for what you do and thanks for being my friend. Dave
Dang it… that made me cry a little.
He’ll do that to you.
Amazing event, amazing night, I’ll never forget it. So many friends and such a good time. “Thanks” doesn’t quite do it …
You can tell much about a person by the friends they keep.
That’s why I hide all the felons.
Greatness!
Do all for His glory, and you will be the richest, regardless of your wealth!
One glass gets the job done and it’s half the clean up. And the wine will always taste better from that glass.
Yup!
Dude, you just keep amazing me. Thanks!
It’s the drugs.
We live in a world that moves so quickly. Most would not think to share a beautiful part of life like a glass of wine and what can come with it. I like the idea; I like the simplicity and I like the conclusion that can come from it. It let’s me know how caught up we can be.
Thank you.
JR
You’re welcome. It moves so quick you have to twitch and dodge to keep from getting run over by it.